The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

the Pandavas will fight against you. Sahadeva,
the son of Jarasandha, and Jayatsena, both unrivalled
heroes in battle, are resolved upon fighting for the
Pandavas. And Drupada too, possessed of great
might, and followed by a large force, and reckless
of his life, is resolved to fight for the Pandavas.
Relying upon these and other kings by hundreds, of
both the eastern and northern countries, king Yudhishthira
the just, is prepared for battle.’”

SECTION LI

“Dhritarashtra said, ’All these named
by thee are, indeed, endued with great courage, but
all of them together are equal to Bhima singly.
My fear, O child, from the wrathful Bhima is, indeed,
very great, like that of fat deer from an enraged
tiger. I pass all my nights in sleeplessness,
breathing deep and hot sighs afraid of Vrikodara, O
child, like an animal of any other species afraid
of the lion. Of mighty arms, and in energy equal
unto Sakra himself, I see not in this whole army even
one that can withstand him in battle. Exceedingly
wrathful and determined in animosity, that son of
Kunti and Pandu smileth not even in jest, is mad with
rage, casteth his glances obliquely, and speaketh in
a voice of thunder. Of great impetuosity and
great courage, of long arms and great might, he will
not, in battle, leave even one of my foolish sons alive.
Indeed, Vrikodara, that bull among the Kurus, whirling
his mace in battle, will, like a second Yama mace
in hand slay all my sons who are afflicted by a heavy
calamity. Even now I see that terrible mace of
his, with eight sides made of steel, and adorned with
gold, uplifted like a Brahmana’s curse.
As a lion of mighty strength among a flock of deer,
Bhima will range among my troops. He only (amongst
his brothers) always displayed his strength cruelly
towards my sons. Eating voraciously, and endued
with great impetuosity, from his very childhood he
hath been behaving inimically towards my children.
My heart trembleth (to remember) that even in their
childhood, Duryodhana and other sons of mine, while
fighting with him (sportively) were always ground down
by the elephant-like Bhima. Alas, my sons have
always been oppressed by his might, and it is that
Bhima of terrible prowess that hath been the cause
of this rupture. Even now I behold Bhima, mad
with rage, fighting in the very van, and devouring
the whole of my host consisting of men, elephants,
and steeds. Equal unto Drona and Arjuna in weapons,
his speed equal unto the velocity of the wind, and
in wrath like unto Maheswara himself, who is there,
O Sanjaya, that would slay that wrathful and terrible
hero in battle? I think it to be a great gain
that my sons were not even then slain by that slayer
of enemies who is endued with such energy. How
can a human being withstand the impetuosity of that
warrior in battle who slew Yakshas and Rakshasas of
terrible might before? O Sanjaya, even in his
childhood he was never completely under my control.